The Right Choicesby GCS

Chapter One

"Well John consider this. Maybe the spirits thought you needed to be reminded how important you are to the rest of us. You are like a son to me John. I like having you on my team. You are very proficient at your job as both a fireman and a paramedic. I consider you and the rest of our crew to be the best LA has to offer. Couldn't it be possible that the spirits wanted you to be reminded that you have made the right choices and are doing what you were born to do?"

It was a long eight weeks, but John Gage finally got his authorization to return to work. Extremely excited and more than ready to report for duty he stopped by the station after leaving Dr. Brackett's office. The A-shift was on, and he hoped they would not be out on a run. It was still morning, and Johnny wanted to surprise his friends. He stopped at his favorite donut shop and in a few minutes came out with the treats in hand a Gage grin plastered across his face.

Although he still needed to gain some of the weight back that he had lost and still had spells of extreme tiredness, he was ready to get back to his life. The injury to his side at the warehouse that day had healed nicely. The scar was fading some, and he was back to running at the high school track near his home. Right at this moment Johnny thought life could not be better.

Whistling as he entered the back of the station glad to see both vehicles in their spots he first went to the dayroom to share the epicurean delights he had brought.

"Hey Gage!" Chet was first to greet him. "If I'd known you were coming I would have told the Phantom to be ready." Chet chuckled as he rose from the sofa to shake Johnny's hand.

"Amigo it's good to see you," Marco patted him on the back.

Mike looked up from the paper and smiled at his friend, "Coffee?"

"That would be great Mike, if you made it that is. Chester B can't make a decent cup to save his life." Johnny shot back at the Phantom as he ruffled Chet's curly hair. Chet ducked from Johnny's touch.

"Hey, hey don't mess with the hair Gage. Our next run might be some beautiful damsel in distress. She could be the first Mrs. Kelly."

"In your dreams Kelly," Johnny laid the donuts on the table and reached for the coffee Mike had poured for him. "Where's Roy?"

"He's cleaning the dorms. Man he sure will be glad to see you. He's had to work a lot with Brice, and it's really got him on edge." Marco explained.

"Who's he working with today?" Johnny asked looking around the room.

"Bellingham."

"Where's he?"

"Well our latest temporary partner got into some trouble with Cap on his last visit here, and he got the honor of the latrines this shift," Chet chuckled and twirled the end of his mustache.

"Latrines huh?" Johnny shared a laugh with the rest of the guys. "What'd he do?"

"Well you know what a slob he can be, right?" Chet continued the report.

"Yeah, yeah, get to the point Chet," Johnny knew how Chet could drag on a story trying to make it more entertaining and he really wanted to get to see Cap about returning to work.

"Okay, okay, it was like this ya see. He kept leaving dirty dishes around the station. He left a plate on the back of the squad, and when they were called out it broke all over the floor of the bay. He left a coffee cup on the sink in the locker room. He even left chicken bones on the bench. Cap was furious. You know how he likes a clean station just in case the chief stops by unannounced." Chet scratched his head. "I'll never understand why he is so afraid of the chief."

"Chet!" Johnny was growing impatient for Chet to finish the story.

"Oh yeah anyway, the last straw was when Cap found him in his bunk. He had gotten up in the night and made himself a sandwich. He fell asleep with a half eaten sandwich on his pillow."

"Oh man," Johnny ran his hand through his hair. "Cap must have been furious."

"Yeah, you know how he's been since we had that mouse in the station." Marco agreed.

"He told Bellingham he would have the latrines for the next three times he covered for anyone on this shift at 51's. I didn't think he would ever agree to work with us, but here he is doing the latrines." Chet finished his little tale.

"I guess he needed the money," Marco finished the conversation. He and Chet were best friends and spent a great deal of time together at work and on their off time just as Roy and Johnny did. Mike and Cap were pretty close too. Sometimes Marco and Chet could finish each other's thoughts. It was kind of uncanny since they were so different. No one could possibly be like the Phantom.

Just as they finished their conversation about Bellingham and began reaching for donuts Roy joined the group, "Junior!" He went over to Johnny and pulled him into a quick shoulder hug. "Man it's great to see you at the station!"

"Thanks Roy, it's great to be at the station!" Johnny smiled. "I got my authorization to return to work right here in my pocket," he patted his shirt. "I'll be back next shift." The group of men surrounded Johnny again with congratulations.

"Tell Cap what?" Captain Stanley said entering the kitchen. "John it's good to see you."

"Cap I have my return to work papers," he fumbled with the papers in his pocket handing the wrinkled wad to his superior. "I can be back next shift."

"That's great news John. How long have you had this waded up bunch of important documents?" Cap smiled at his junior man knowing that he had probably nearly crushed the documents with excitement when he got them. The truth was he had already spoken with Dr. Brackett and knew Johnny was cleared for duty.

"Uh sorry Cap….I….just got them a little bit ago…I…g..guess I was just a little excited." He ran his hand through his hair and looked up at his boss sheepishly.

"It's okay John. I think we're all a little excited too." Hank walked over and took Johnny's hand shaking it as he planted the other hand on his shoulder. As a father might do he pulled Johnny into a quick manly hug with a couple of slaps on the back. "It's good to have you back son. Now what kind of donuts have you brought for us?" He turned and reached into the box.

Johnny's smiled spread completely across his face and his eyes danced with happiness. "Everyone's favorites Cap."

"Did I hear someone say donuts?" Bob Bellingham asked as he joined the rest of the group. "Gage, good to see you up and around, I hope this means you'll be coming back soon. We're all getting tired of covering your butt," Bob said good humouredly as he patted Johnny's back and then grabbed for the donut box.

"Bellingham," Captain Stanley interrupted the man. "Just one."

"Yes sir," Bob's shoulders slumped.

"After we have all gotten some you can have more, understood?" Captain Stanley would never understand why he had to treat grown men like children sometimes. The rest of the men laughed. Bob smiled at them and joined them in their laughter.

They all visited over coffee and donuts for the next half hour until the tones called them out. Johnny was left alone at the station. He felt at home here. He gathered the coffee cups and filled the sink with suds. He washed the dishes and coffee pot. He started a fresh pot to leave for the guys, wiped the table with the damp rag, rinsed it and hung it over the faucet to dry.

Looking around the dayroom he felt a sense of belonging. His smile spread across his face. He was back.

Chapter Two

The day of his return to work had finally arrived.

Johnny awoke very early, too early to head to the station. He didn't want to arrive before the tones woke up the guys currently on shift.

He was showered and dressed, but knowing it was still too early, he waited. He wandered aimlessly around his apartment. He had cleaned it meticulously while he recuperated, so there was nothing that he needed to do.

He had long since finished the book that Captain Stanley had started reading to him while he was at the hospital too weak to even hold a book. He didn't want to watch television.

Filled with nervous energy he decided to go to the park near the high school where he went running. He didn't want to run this morning and get all hot and sweaty and need to shower again. But maybe some fresh air would help settle his nerves.

Grabbing his keys off the coffee table he left the apartment.

The drive to the park was short.

Getting out of the Rover he found his way over to a picnic table. He climbed up and sat on the table with his feet resting on the bench. The morning was cool making him shiver slightly. He pulled his arms closely around his body.

Ever since he had been injured and lost so much blood it seemed as if he couldn't get warm. Dr. Brackett assured him it was temporary, but he had never been this cold before. He rarely wore a jacket and had not thought to get one this morning. His uniform jacket was hanging in his locker at the station, so he just pulled his arms tighter, and rubbed his hands up and down his arms trying to warm himself.

His thoughts drifted back to what worried him about returning to the job he loved so much.

Firefighting was second nature to him, and being a paramedic made him who he is. He knew the job like the back of his hand. He didn't doubt his knowledge of how to do the job, but he was worried about his physical ability to perform it well.

Dr. Brackett had released him for duty and for that he was glad, but deep down he knew that he was still not completely up to par. He still tired easily. His stomach muscles still were not as tight as he liked them to be. Of course the strenuous parts of his job would help with that. Hauling hoses and victims would certainly help him to tone up again, if he could hold up to it long enough to get to that point.

What worried him the most was his ability to back up his crew mates.

The guys, Chet, Marco, Mike, and Roy had proved to him again and again that they cared a lot about him. This last injury had confirmed it to him once again.

Then there was his Captain. Hank Stanley had become his lifeline. He literally held his hand and pulled him back to the living. If it hadn't been for Cap he might have given up. Captain Stanley had supported him, comforted him, and kept him company throughout the ordeal. Then he had taken him home to his family to be nursed back to health.

Normally he would have gone to Roy's but Chris and Jennifer had gotten the flu, and with his weakened immune system, he couldn't be exposed to it. Hank had not even thought twice about taking Johnny to his home.

How would he ever repay his Captain and friends for helping him back on his feet once again?

"I thought I might find you here."

Johnny looked up quickly. He was startled out of his thoughts. "Uh…oh..Hi, I didn't hear you come up."

"Well John, I knew you would be up early this morning. I suspected you would be a little anxious about returning to work after so long. Am I right?" Captain Stanley took a seat on the table next to Johnny. He threw a jacket around the younger man. "Put that on. It's chilly this morning. Honestly don't you ever wear a jacket?"

"Thanks Cap. Yeah, I guess you're right. I am a little nervous. I don't want to let the guys down."

"How would you let them down?"

"If I can't hold up, I mean I still get tired so easily. I'm not really at 100%. Well I know Brackett released me, but you know I'm not like I was before the accident. I don't want to get someone hurt."

"John, one thing I am sure of is that you would never do anything to get someone hurt; that I can guarantee you." Captain Stanley put his arm across Johnny's shoulders. "I also know that the guys will watch your back as well. They know how hard you've worked to get back. They're looking forward to having you working along side."

"They are?" Johnny rubbed his hand through his hair. "I mean, yeah, yeah they are; they said so."

"Now how 'bout we head over to the station where it's warmer. These older bones don't like this cool breeze. I'll buy you a cup of firehouse coffee." He slapped Johnny on the back and slid off the table.

Johnny followed his Captain toward their vehicles. "Thanks Cap."

"Sure John, besides I'm pretty sure the guys have a surprise breakfast waiting on you, but don't tell them I told you."

"Well I'm an active kinda guy Cap. I have to keep up with my metabolism. Besides Dr. Brackett says I'm still a little underweight." His last statement had a bit of sarcasm in it.

"Okay son, I'll see you at the station," Hank smiled as he slipped into his car. "Keep the jacket." He said as he saw Johnny start to slip it off. "You can return it later." Actually he had gotten the jacket for Johnny, but he would tell him that later. Right now he just wanted him to keep it on.

"I'll meet you there." Johnny turned toward the Rover with a renewed bounce in his step.

Chapter Three

Johnny arrived at the station to find the parking lot full of the familiar cars from both A and B shifts. The only parking spot open was the one he always parked in. That gave him a warm comfortable feeling inside, he smiled broadly.

Coming in the open bay door he paused to take in the sight of the squad and engine, the familiar storage locker, the giant map of L.A. on the wall, and the always open door to Cap's office. Whistling a little off key he turned happily to the locker room. 'I wonder if the Phantom will have a surprise for me on my first day back,' he chuckled to himself as he pushed through the door.

The locker room was empty.

He cautiously opened his locker door to find that it was not rigged with a water bomb. 'Cap must have told him to hold off for a few days,' he smiled again thinking of how protective Cap had become since his accident.

Walking back across the apparatus bay he could hear the group of men in the kitchen and dayroom talking comfortably among themselves. Pausing outside the door he could hear a mixture of laughter and comfortable camaraderie. 'Man I've missed that.'

He placed his hand on the door and a broad Gage grin on his face as he pushed his way into the room, "Mornin', Morn….argh!"

Water poured all over him in a huge splash drenching him from head to toe.

"Chet!" He stood dripping in a puddle of water. Laughter roared from his co-workers.

"Surprise!" they all yelled some coming over to shake his hand or pat his wet back.

"Welcome back Gage!" Dwyer told him as he shook his hand. "Man it's really glad to see you in uniform."

Johnny knew Dwyer meant it, and slowly he began to smile and laugh with the group. "Man Chester the Phantom really got me this time."

"Well he had some help on this one. We all figured you had been dry for way too long," Chet grinned at his pigeon. "The Phantom has been saving water for you for weeks." Everyone laughed again.

"Okay John, get changed. We'd like to eat this breakfast before it gets cold," Captain Stanley wanted to get things going before anyone was called out. His shift didn't start for another thirty minutes, but as had been the custom in the past, if the entire next shift was there and dressed in their uniforms, they would take the call to prevent the departing shift from unnecessary overtime.

Roy got up to follow his partner to the locker room. "Welcome back, Junior."

"Thanks Roy. It's really good to be here." Johnny smiled to his best friend.

"I have a dry uniform for you in my locker if you need it." Roy patted Johnny's back.

"Nah, I have several. I had all mine cleaned while I was off. Man Chet really got me this time."

"Yeah, he did." The two friends laughed again.

After breakfast the B shift filtered out of the station to go home, and the A shift lined up for roll call. It was a good feeling to have them all back together and that showed on everyone's faces. "John, good to have you back. Now for assignments, John the dorm, Roy and Marco hoses, Mike you're the cook today, and Chet…"

"Yes sir, I know latrines thanks to the phantom's tub of water." Everyone laughed, and Chet received several pats of approval.

After roll call they all went their separate ways to start their supply checks and chores. Johnny approached Chet, "I…you know…." As he usually did when he wanted to say the right thing Johnny stumbled over his words. "I…thanks Chet. Thanks for makin' me feel…you know."

"I know Gage. It's good to have you back, real good." The two friends didn't usually admit how close they were, so this was a rare occasion; for them to actually speak about it would tell anyone who knew them well just how sincere the feelings were.

As soon as Johnny joined Roy in taking inventory of the drug box the tones sounded sending the squad on the first run.

Captain Stanley leaned in the driver's side window handing Roy the call slip. Both men had donned their helmets. Hank smiled at his men. "Man, there for a while I didn't know if I would see you two in the squad together again. Good luck on this run guys. I'm real proud to see you back as a team."

The adrenaline raced through Johnny's slender body. They pulled up at the call for a man down and like he had never missed a day he climbed out of the squad placed his helmet on the top rail and opened the compartment doors in one fluid movement. Grabbing the drug box and the oxygen as Roy grabbed the bio-phone they turned together and went up the walk to the front door.

A very distressed middle aged woman met them as they came onto the front porch, "He's in here. He grabbed his chest and fell to the floor. Please help him. I think he's having a heart attack."

Raising the HT to his mouth Roy called dispatch for an ambulance.

The Paramedic team worked in their usual professional fashion. Nods and eye contact their only needed communication. One thing about it they could anticipate each other's thoughts and needs on a rescue call with out the need for words.

After stabilizing the patient they loaded him in the ambulance, "Why don't you ride in with him Johnny."

"Okay Roy see you at Rampart." Johnny climbed into the back of the ambulance and started taking another set of vitals as Roy shut the doors giving them the customary slap.

At the hospital Johnny received more welcome wishes from the passing nurses and doctors as he entered along side the gurney. "Treatment three," Dixie told the group and followed them inside. A flurry of activity immediately took over the treatment room as the medical team worked on the patient. Johnny gave his report and gathered up the squad's equipment, transferring the man to the hospital oxygen. He stood back waiting to see if Dr. Brackett needed his assistance before leaving.

Dixie came over and instead of standing beside him as she normally would the generally always professional nurse grabbed him up in a warm embrace. "I've missed you." She kissed him on the cheek.

The blush started on his neck and rose to his cheeks, "Uh…um…thanks Dix." He grinned shyly. "I missed you too."

"We're all glad to have our best team back together Johnny," Dr. Brackett chuckled. "Now I think you can get out of here now. We can handle it from here."

Having been dismissed Johnny left the room and headed to the nurse's desk for coffee.

There was no question about it, he felt good to be back in his normal routine. He had worried about getting back into the groove, but he had slipped into it with no trouble at all.

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